Refrigerator closure means



`25, 1938. N, R TRlPP 2,106,386

REFRIGERATOR CLOSURE MEANS Filed Sept. 24, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In ven for A orneys Jan. 25, 1938. N, R TR|pp 2,106,386 REFRIGERATOR CLOSURE MEANS l Filed Sept. 24, 1936 Q Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 25, 1.938

l UNITED STATES PATENT oEI-IcE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to novel and improved closure means for so-called electro-mechanical and gas-operated refrigerators, the primary object of the invention being to provide a simple and eilicient sectional slide door assembly susceptible ofaccomplishing the desired results in a more satisfactory and practicable manner.

In order to conserve space and to likewise conserve cold air within the refrigerator itself, I have found it expedient and practicable to substitute for the usual outwardly swinging hinged door a sectional sliding' closure comprising upper and lower companion sections operable in suitable guides, said Sections being progressively operable so that the top section can be dropped down to permit access to be had to the corresponding or upper portion of the refrgerator.

Manifestly, it is submitted that an arrangement of this character is possessed of structural refinement and improvement in that. the cold air in the lower part of the ice box is trapped and maintained effectively while only a relatively small amount of the relatively warmer air at the top is allowed to escape when the upper d sliding section of the closure is forced down, by

hand, to open position.

Other featured and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

30 In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of what might be called an ordinary refrigerator ranging from an 35 ordinary so-called ice box to a -modern electric or gas refrigerator having built therein the improved duplex sliding door closure means as constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view looking at one side of the box with the box broken away to show the arrangement of parts satisfactorily.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the plane of the line 3-,-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a horizontal section showing the hand-adjusted retaining or so-called locking means for the upper sliding section.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the upper sliding door. 50 So far as the ice box or refrigerator itself is concerned, it is immaterial what source of cooling medium is employed. In other words, the ice box 6 may be of any suitable construction, since the novelty is predicated on the closure means constituting the sectional door. In carrying out the principles of the invention I have found it expedient and practicable to utilize a pair of spaced parallel perpendicular guide tracks 1, and these are disposed-inside. of the box on opposite sides of the door or entrance opening 8. The guide tracks are channel-shaped in cross-section and the inner flanges are denoted by the numerals 9, and the outer flanges by the numerals I0. This provides an adequate mounting for the upper and lower sliding panels or doors II and I2, respectively. These doors are properly insulated and of properly coordinated sizes to close the opening 8 when said doo-rs are in closed position, as sho-wn for example in Figure 2. The upper door or panel is provided with appropriate packing means I3 engageable with the upper stop cleat` I4 inside of the refrigerator. On the inner lower portion thereof is an additional packing strip I5 which constitutes a parting element and which is in contact, that is, slidable contact, with the lower sliding panel or door I2. On the door I2 at the bottom thereof is astop or ledge I6 outstanding in the path of opening movement of the upper door to be engaged by said upper door in the half-open position thereof whereby further opening movement of the upper door moves the lower door I2 toward opening position to uncover the entire opening 8 to permit free access to be had to the upper and lower Shelves (not shown) in the refrigerator. Obviously,V the width of the tracks is such as to permit the doors II and I2 to be arranged therein to move into the desired telescoping action.

It will be noticed that suitable pulleys I1 are mounted in the box at appropriate points to ac- -commodate sash cords I8 carrying countervweights I9 such as are utilized to normally elevate the doors II and I2 to closed positions. Thus, this sash cord and sash weight idea embodied in the doors gives them an ordinary sliding sash for window operation as is obvious, and the panels or doors are thus automatically maintained in closed position and have to be forced down by hand in order to be in open position.

In addition to the overlapping and telescoping counterweight and track idea, I found it advisable to provide retaining means on the upper sliding door or panel II to maintain it in a'lowl ered or set open position. The means comprises suitable guides 20a on the outer surface of the panel to accommodate projectible and retractable retaining rods 20. The rods are provided at their outer ends with retaining heads 2| of suitable design to engage the edges of the door opening 8. The inner threaded ends 22 cooperate with an operating nut 23 operated by a suitable handle or lever 24. It is obvious, then, that when the upper sliding panel or door Il is lowered to a desired position, the nut 23 and threads 22 cooperate to force the retaining heads 2| into frictional engagement with the cooperating surfaces or edges of the door opening 8, and this locks the 4door in a set position so that access can be had to the upper shelves and commodities or articles contained thereon. By lowering the upper door Il, theflQwer door I2 remains closed and traps the cold air in the lower portion of the box so that it does not needlessly escape into the room. At the same time, access is permitted to' the upper part of the box where many of the articles desired for use may be inserted or lremoved as desired.

Briefly, the gist of the invention resides in the provision of cooperating or telescoplng upper and lower sliding panels confined within the limits of the refrigerator and operable in suitable guides or tracks, said sections being counter- Aweighted so that they will always be maintained in a closed or sealed position. The opening of the box is from the top down and the doors may be stopped and held in any position by the retaining or catch means. It is believed that the construction and arrangement is such as to reduce operating costs, since the colder air is always in the bottom of the box. As the closure or door means opens from the top down, the shelves at thetop are accessible in order that the charge of cold air is not-lost below the position to which said upper door is lowered. In addition to this, the construction ls such as to conserve not only the cold air, but floor, space, since there is no door to swing out into a crowded or relatively small kitchen or pantry, as the case may be. The structural arrangement is effective, simple, and economical, durable, self-sealing, and otherwise aptly fitted for the particular purposes intended.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding ofthe invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the eld of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

l. In a refrigerator having a vertical doorway therein, a pair of upper and lower doors closing the upper and lower halves of said doorway, respectively,` and vertically slidable downwardly into opening positions, and overt-balancing means for each door urging the same toward closing positions, the lower door having a ledge along the lower edge thereof in the path of opening movement of the upper door, said upper door in the half-open position thereof engaging saidv ledge and upon further opening movement thereof moving the lower door toward opening position.

2. In a refrigerator having a vertical doorway therein, a pair of upper and lower doors closing the upper and lower halves of said doorway, respectively, and vertically slidable downwardly into opening positions, respectively, over-balancing means for each door urging the same toward closing position, the lower door having a ledge along the lower edge thereof in the path of opening movement of the upper door, said upper door in the half-open position thereof engaging said ledge and upon further ,opening movement thereof moving the lower door toward opening position, and means for holding the upper door stationary in any opening position thereof whereby the upper door may be set to block closing movement of the lower door, said means comprising a friction brake' for retarding the closing movement of said doors under the action of the overbalancing means.

NEWELL RICHARD TRIPP. 

